A Roman Gold Aureus, struck under Emperor Galba (AD 68-69) will be Auction 90; Ancient Coins, British Coins and Commemorative Medals by A.H. Baldwin and Sons Ltd on the 24-25 September, at The Ballroom, 44 Grosvenor Square, London. The Aureus, with its clear portrait of the notorious Roman ruler is estimated at £5,000-6,000. (US$8,000-10,000).
486 lot of Ancient Coins, British Coins and Commemorative Medals will be in the auction. The sale boasts Part One of The David Sellwood Collection of Parthian Coins, the most extensive and important of its type in private hands. The auction will be held on 25th September 2014 at The CIPFA conference centre in London, as the official auction of Coinex, the International Coin Fair set in London.
To the East of the Roman Empire, the Parthian's grew as a formidable force for over 400 years, overthrowing much of the Seleucid Empire. Although relatively unknown and under explored, the surviving Parthian coinage is our most informative primary source about the history, art, culture and economics of the Dynasty.
David Sellwood was the foremost numismatist on the coinage of Parthia. His collection, spanning the full history of the Parthian Kingdom, represents a lifetime of critical research on the subject. His comprehensive and important collection will feature across a number of Baldwin's sales next year, with his highest quality coins selling in the January New York sale.
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| Phraates III Silver Drachm, minted at Ecbatana |
From the collection is a Phraates III Silver Drachm, minted at Ecbatana. Formerly a Seleucid mint, Ecbatana was a principal mint during the Parthian period. Phraates III was one of the only Parthian King to use the forward facing bust and this example is an exceptional design for the series. The obverse bears diademed and short bearded bust facing forward, wearing a necklet with medallion and a dotted boarder. This attractive example is estimated at £400-500 (US$600-800). [Lot 1172]
Sellwood's collection also spans the World and English coins in the sale, including a Charles I Pontefract siege piece. The Silver Shilling, 1648, was struck before the execution of Charles I (1st January 1649) and is estimated at £2,000-2,500 (US$3,000-4,000). Pontefract was the longest standing siege town, resisting attack before yielding March 22, 1649, two months after the execution of Charles I. [Lot 1650]
%2C%2BHalfpenny%2C%2BLondon%2C%2BTower%2Bmint.jpg "Richard III (1483-1485), Halfpenny, London, Tower mint") |
| Richard III (1483-1485), Halfpenny, London, Tower mint |
Elsewhere in the English coins is an exceptional example of a Richard III (1483-1485) Halfpenny struck at the Tower mint. This fine and rare coin joins a team of new, Richard III, discoveries. In 2012 a team of archaeologists discovered the crushed skeleton of the last Plantagenet King under a car park in Leicestershire, and a recent bone chemistry analysis has revealed that he indulged excessively in food and wine. The coin is estimated at £3,000-5,000 (US$5,000-8,000). [Lot 1608]
Steve Hill, Director and Head of English Coins at A.H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd said; "I cannot recall seeing a better example of a Richard III Halfpenny than this recent discovery. It is a superb little coin."
With 2014 marking the World War I centenary, a gold prize medal for Bachelor of Medicine, awarded to Mary Hannah Frances Ivens, is a particularly poignant piece in Baldwin's WWI medals section. As a member of Suffragist organisation, Scottish Women's Hospital for Foreign Service, Ivens was tasked with running a 200 bed hospital, Hôpital Auxiliaire 301, in Northern France during the war. Staffed entirely by women, her hospital treated allied forces from the Western Front throughout the Great War from January 1915 until February 1919.
It was only at the end of the 19th century that women gained the right to study and practice medicine, and in 1894 Iven's enrolled at the London School of Medicine for Women. On graduating she was awarded this medal and in 1903 became only the third women to attain the Master of Surgery honour.
This extremely fine gold prize marked the beginning of Mary Hannah Frances Ivens' exceptional career that saw her play a vital, life-giving role throughout the Great War. A pioneer of women in medicine, her medal is expected to achieve £3,000-5,000 (US$5,000-8,000) [Lot 2086]
This auction is part of a two day calendar taking place during Coinex 2014 on the 24-25 September, at The Ballroom, 44 Grosvenor Square. Baldwin's will also be offering Auction 91, on Friday 25 September 2014, featuring the final part of the Lindén Collection. Catalogues are available online at www.baldwin.co.uk
